Current Event Guidelines

What is it? 

A current event is a summary of a recent article taken from a newspaper, magazine, Internet site, etc.  (A recent article has to have been written within the past month.)  These articles must be related to science or social studies.  Think of the Characteristics of civilization: Religion, Jobs, Cities, Government, Language and Communication, Technology, Social Hierarchy. 

Do I need to turn in the article? Yes, until I tell you differently.   However, eventually you will provide the Internet link or the source where you find the article so I can check for accuracy. 

How does it work? 

Each student will complete one current event EVERY WEEK.   Summaries will be chosen and posted on our message board for discussion later in the month until we are clear on the expectations of the assignment.  

Grades:  Writing

1. All summaries will be written and each will serve as a single writing grade based on a scoring rubric of 20 points.  Your summary needs to be  typed or handwritten.  If it is typed, type with a 12 point font.  If it is handwritten, then it needs to be written on notebook paper with neat, cursive handwriting utilizing the paper’s margins.  Nothing else will be accepted.

Summary should be minimum 8 sentences and reflection or opinion should be as well, for a minimum of  16 sentences.  If your summary is brief and you do not communicate your thoughts on the article you will not receive full credit. If you are counting it by paragraphs, it is a minimum 2-paragraph essay.

 Grades: Posts

2. Discussions on the message board will be assessed on timely posts, responding to directions, and idea development.

HELPFUL SITES: Found On Current Event Links 

Important:  Any site that has topics appropriate for school presentation is acceptable.

We will continuously review topics that are inappropriate for submission.

Citing an article:

In addition to your summary, you must provide the Title, Source, and Date of your article.  And tell if the issue is local, national, or global. 

Examples:

Magazine

James Nachtwey, The Day the Towers Fell, Time, September 19, 2011 

Newspaper

Charity Vogel, Saddling Riders With Risk, The Buffalo News, Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Internet

Jillian Komoroski, Posted November 28, 2011, Does Technology Help or Hurt santa?,  www.timeforkids.com/news (found in address bar)

Sometimes there is no author.